Introduction: Hi there,
I teach in El Cerrito and Berkeley, to students from the East Bay in the San Francisco bay of California. I teach in person from my studio and also over skype.
Just a few words to introduce my approach and my work ethic. I am committed to working hard for my students and remaining responsive to their musical tastes and interests. I also work to find out what learning style and senses my students learn most easily with (visual,
kinesthetic, auditory etc.) and adapt my teaching plan to meet the individual needs of each student. I use a variety of creative musical activities and techniques to engender an engaged learning in each of my students.
I have an established private teaching practice and teaching studio. I have extensive experience in private piano and vocal tuition and teaching general musicianship, music theory, singing and instrumental teaching in schools, as well as 10 years experience as a vocal performer in the UK.
In teaching piano, I teach rigorous foundational piano technique from the beginning, along with general musicianship. I like to incorporate teaching of general musical concepts, while encouraging creativity and imagination with the younger pupils that I teach. I also incorporate adaptations of popular music that children like to hear and play and try to stay responsive to the musical tastes of the student- while maintaining high standards in technique from beginners to advanced. I also address postural awareness and incorporate elements of the alexander technique into my teaching.
For those interested in singing lessons, I will first and foremost find out what kind of sound you personally wish to produce. Styles vary greatly across different genres. I will then diagnose your voice type and what difficulties you may be encountering which may be preventing you from creating the sound you are aiming for and create a plan of exercises over time to address any difficulties.
I will show you ways in which the voice can be strengthened and balanced across the whole range and help my students achieve a healthy mix of head and chest resonance. This is achieved through exercises and vocal cues, enabling you to recognize the sensations that lead to good use of the voice.
My credentials:
- Alexander Technique Training- current.
- BA Music degree, Middlesex University, June 2004. Piano Performance Major and Music History
- 2 year piano scholarship at Conservatoire de Paris du Vème, with training on my second
instrument (violin), a member of conservatoire orchestra
- Music Diploma, Paris VIII University
- Violinist in Baroque Orchestra in Paris, touring and concerts
- Choral Certificate 1996
- Grade 8 Piano 1998
- 18 years of musical training and involvement in music, including specializing in music
from 16 and years of experience performing in a variety of orchestras.
- 13 years teaching experience in private piano tuition, development of teaching skills for younger children, incorporating imaginative games and tailoring teaching to meet differing ages and abilities.
- 4 years experience peripatetic teaching in schools and 4 years of experience of classroom music teaching on recorder, guitar, percussion and general music theory,
composition and musicianship
- Teacher training with four major district music services in the UK
- Training with professional concert pianists Martino Terrino, Peter Blithel and Andre Krust
- 10 years experience as a professional vocal artist, live concerts around the UK
- Fluent in French
I am passionate about figuring out the individual learning style of each of my students and enjoy being a part of their musical progress and journey, helping them to find their confidence to express musically and bring out their innate musicality.
I'm also highly interested in maintaining long term healthy physical use whilst playing one's instrument and so I incorporate elements of the Alexander technique to prevent injury and discomfort from day one. I am currently undertaking professional training in this modality.
